Fingernail protector



Nov. 8, 1949 R. E. COLBY ET AL 2,487,101

FINGERNAIL PROTECTOR Filed June 27, 1947 INVENTORS RALPH- E. COLBY vm R. COLBY AT-TORNEY Patented Nov. 8, 1949 FINGERNAIL PROTECTOR Ralph E. Colby and Vida R. Colby, Ridgewood, N. J.

Application June 27, 1947, Serial No. 757,510

7 Claims. (01. 2-21) This invention relates to an improved fingernail polish protector.

Among the objects of the invention are: To provide a nail polish protector halving hinged parts so arranged as to enable polish to be applied to the fingernail while the protector is on the finger, and without danger of smearing of the nail polish; to provide a nail polish protector having a nail shield portion so designed that it is always raised above the-nail and cannot touch the nail whenpositioned to protect the nail polish; and to provide a fingernail guard or protector having a finger clamping or grasping portion and a nail shield portion in hinged relation to each other, so constructed and arranged that the nail shield portion can remain either in a raised position to permit access to the fingernail or in a lowered position to protect the fingernail.

A more detailed description of the invention follows in conjunction with a drawing, wherein Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show exaggerated sectional or end views of three different embodiments of the fingernail polish protector or guard of the invention, as seen from the rear;

Fig. 4 illustrates a side elevation view of the fingernail polish protector of the invention positioned on a finger; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the fingernail polish protector of Fig. 3.

Essentially, the fingernail polish protector comprises a resilient finger gripping or clamping part and a resilient arcuate-shaped nail guard or shield part in hinged relation to each other. In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the finger gripping parts are designated I, I; II, II and I0, respectively. The nail guard or shield part, shown in more detail in Figs. 4 and 5, is designated 2 and is integral with a slightly curved resilient extension member 3 or 3' adapted to fit over the flesh of the finger adjacent the nail. The finger gripping parts I, I of Fig. 1 are oppositely disposed and substantially straight and are adapted to touch both sides of the finger when the nail polish protector is positioned on the finger. Parts II and II of Fig. 2 are also oppositely disposed and have curved under portions and are adapted to touch both sides and the bottom of the finger, while part II] of Fig. 3 has a U-shape form which is continuous and adapted to touch both sides and the bottom of the finger. The constructions of Figs. 2 and 3 are preferred because of their better finger gripping properties.

It should be noted that the adjacent edges of parts 3 and l of Fig. 1, parts 3 and l I of Fig. 2 a Parts 3' and IQ o Fig. 3 are curled and that they nest within one another to form a hinged or pivotal construction. Such an arrangement enables the part 3 or 3' with its integrally linked nail shield portion 2 to be raised to a position which is substantially at right angles to the positions shown in the drawings, when the device of the invention is positioned on the finger, and to remain in this raised position while the polish is being applied to the fingernail. After the nail polish has been applied to the fingernail, the part 3 or 3' with its nail shield 2 can then be turned or lowered to assume the positions illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 for protecting the nail polish.

Although the part 3 or 3' with its integrally linked shield 2 can remain in the raised position by virtue of the friction between the curled elements of the hinge, it is preferred to provide beads 6 which are adapted to engage each other to insure that this raised position of the sleeve is maintained until such time as downward pressure is brought to bear upon the shield 2. This downward pressure will release the beads from each other.

In order to prevent the shield 2 from touching the fingernail in the positions illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, there is provided a downwardly extending ridge 4 adapted to contact the flesh immediately behind the fingernail. This arrangement assures an appreciable distance between the nail and the shield at all times and obviates the danger of smearing the nail polish when the shield is positioned immediately above the nail.

The modification of Figs. 3 and 5 employs a catch or fastening feature between the resilient members In and 3' at the edges opposite the hinge. This catch is easily opened or closed by a slight pressure in the proper direction at or near these edges.

The various parts of the fingernail polish protector are resilient and preferably made of a molded plastic material, although it will be obvious that other suitable light-weight materials may be employed, such as aluminum, or other pliable metals.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that when the device of the invention is positioned on the finger and the shield part 2 together with its integrally connected part 3 or 3' is raised to a position substantially at right angles to those shown in the drawings, that polish can be applied to the fingernail without interfering with the operation of the manicurist.

' Although the resilient finger grasping or clamping portion of the device of the. invention enables it to fit fingers of different sizes, it is contemplated that the devices of the invention be made in different sizes to fit different fingers, so that they can be sold in sets of five or ten.

It should be understood that various modifications may be made in the fingernail polish protector without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A nail polish protector comprising a nail shield for the fingernail and a part for securing said shield on the finger, and means for hinging the rear end portion of said shield to said part solely to the top and on one side of said device.

2. A fingernail polish protector device comprising a nail shield having an integral extension piece, a finger clamping part in hinged relation to said extension piece, at solely one side of said extension piece, and means comprising beads on said extension piece and finger clamping part for enabling said shield and extension piece to maintain a fixed position substantially at right angles to the position of intended use as a polish protector until released from said fixed position by the user said beads being in juxtaposition to each other in the hinged portions of said extension piece and finger clamping part.

3. A nail polish protector comprising a nail shield having a curled side edge portion at the rear thereof, and a member for securing said nail shield to the finger, one side of saidmember having a curled side edge portion adapted to nest within the curled side edge portion of said nail shield for hingedly linking said shield and member together.

4. A nail polish protector comprising a nail shield having a curled side edge portion at the rear thereof, and a member for securing said nail shield to the finger, one side of said member having a curled side edge portion adapted to nest within the curled side edge portion of said nail shield for hingedly linking said shield and member together, said curled side edge portions being beaded at their extremities for enabling said shield to remain in an open position relative to said finger securing member.

5. A fingernail guard comprising an arcuateshaped resilient nail shield having a rear extension piece, a resilient member adapted to secure said shield to the finger and in hinged relation to said rear extension piece solely along one side, said member being U-shaped for encircling the bottom of the finger, the other side of said U- shaped member cooperating with the adjacent side of said extension piece to form a catch for locking said guard on said finger.

6. A fingernail guard comprising an arcuateshaped resilient nail shield having a rear extension piece, a resilient member adapted to secure said shield to the finger and in hinged relation to said rear extension piece solely along one side, said member being U-shaped for encircling the bottom of the finger, the other side of said U- shaped member having an angularly positioned flange, the edge of said extension piece adapted to be adjacent said flange being curved to form a catch for said flange, to thereby enable locking said guard on said finger.

7. A nail polish protector comprising a nail shield for the fingernail and a rear part for securing said shield on the finger, and means secured solely to one side of the rear part for hingedly securing said protector to the finger, said shield having "a downwardly protruding ridge intermediate the rear part and said shield which is adapted to rest on the flesh of the finger immediately behind the nail, for assuring a space between said shield and the fingernail.

RALPH E. COLBY. VIDA R. COLBY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 474,237 Frost May 3, 1892 498,178 Leonard May 23, 1893 884,609 Ramsey Apr. 14, 1908 

